How do I buy my next home in Central Oregon before my current one sells?
Plan for the slow case, not the hopeful one. Bend homes that went under contract in October 2026 took a median 59 days to get there, about 1 in 4 Bend listings this year is on track not to sell, and about 1 in 6 October deals fell apart. Build your move around those odds, and talk to a lender before you choose how to finance it.
Updated November 9, 2026. Excludes vacant land, farm and multi-family properties.
The numbers
| What we measured | When | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Median time for Bend homes to go under contract | October 2026 | 59 days |
| Bend listings on track not to sell at all | 2026 (2025) | 25.7% (23.0%) |
| Redmond and Sisters listings on track not to sell | 2026 | Redmond 31%, Sisters 42% |
| Bend deals under contract that fell apart and came back on the market | October 2026 | About 16% (25 of 157) |
| Redmond deals that fell apart | October 2026 | 24% (11 of 45) |
Deals falling apart is a newer measure, with only two months tracked so far, so treat it as an early sign rather than a settled number.
What this means for you
Plan for the slow case, not the hopeful one. Expect about two months to get under contract, plus time to close, and have a plan for the 1 in 4 homes that don't sell and the roughly 1 in 6 deals that fall apart.
The usual paths are selling first and renting short-term, buying with an offer that depends on your home selling (sellers accept these more often in a slower market), or bridge financing. A lender should weigh in before you pick.
Price your current home to sell in the first month, since that is where you keep the most.
These are Bend-wide numbers; Austin can run them for your price range and neighborhood.